This is a tricky one for Western jurists (and journalists) because they are divided as to whether adultery is a crime or a sin or a lifestyle choice. From a Shariah point of view, it’s simple: He should be stoned to death. Well, that’s what the Taliban say, and they have form in these matters because when they ran Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, adulterers were dealt with severely and punishments ranged from flogging to stoning, depending on circumstances, availability of materials and interpretations of Shariah.

But stoning is not the only option for David Petraeus say the Taliban. Their membership is drawn mainly from the Pashtun ethnic group, which has a very strict moral code. “From a Pashtun point of view, Petraeus should be shot by relatives from his mistress’s family,” a Taliban official told Emirates 24/7. Over to you, Stephen Kranz.

For all those confused by the morality and the intricacy of the Petraeus drama, Mother Jones has compiled a very useful guide to the main characters and the chronology.